Eli woke up to the morning sunlight filtering through his curtains, its warmth a gentle reminder of the previous day's triumphs. With the events of the Spider Nest still fresh in his mind, he couldn't help but feel an undeniable surge of excitement for what the future held. The possibilities seemed endless, and for the first time in a long while, Eli felt like he was truly in control of his destiny. Today, he was in the best mood of his life.
Descending the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast, Eli found his sister Lily and his father deep in conversation about Lily's upcoming dungeon expedition. She had been invited by a prominent group, promising her a sizable share of the loot. His mother, meanwhile, was busy preparing breakfast, the comforting aroma of cooking food filling the air.
As soon as his mother laid the breakfast on the table, Eli began to eat with a fervor that left his family in awe. His father jokingly admonished him to save some for the rest of them, and Eli, caught up in his hunger, quickly apologized.
"It's fine, dear," his mother chimed in, "just make sure Lily gets enough to eat. She'll need her strength today." Lily nodded in agreement, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation towards Eli. "Speaking of needing strength, where were you all day yesterday?" she prodded, her curiosity piqued.
Their parents echoed the question, equally curious about Eli's adventures with his "friends." Eli, seizing the moment for a bit of mischief, explained they were celebrating, intentionally vague about the details. As his family pressed for more information about the celebration, Eli decided to reveal his newfound abilities in a dramatic fashion.
With a casual thought, he commanded his God Hands to take over the cooking duties in the kitchen and begin serving the table. The transition was seamless, unnoticed at first by his family, absorbed as they were in the conversation. It wasn't until his father realized his plate had been filled without his wife's movement that confusion set in. Turning around, the sight that greeted them was one of ten pairs of hands efficiently managing the kitchen tasks and serving food.
The room fell silent, mouths agape as they processed the scene before them. Eli, with a mischievous grin, finally introduced his family to the powers he had acquired. The revelation was met with an outpouring of happiness and astonishment from his parents, and a flurry of questions from Lily, who had never encountered an ability like his.
Lily, ever the inquisitive one, bombarded him with questions. "But what can they do? How did you get them? Are there more abilities?"
Eli, reveling in the moment, responded with a cheeky, "What can't they do?" His vague response only fueled Lily's curiosity, but her pressing questions were cut short by the need to leave for her own expedition.
"I want a full explanation when I get back, Eli!" Lily called out as she rushed to leave, excitement and intrigue evident in her tone.
As Lily rushed off to her own adventure, promising to catch up on all the details upon her return, Eli prepared to leave as well. Before stepping out, he shared a moment with his parents, expressing his desire to contribute financially now that he, too, possessed remarkable abilities.
Eli's parents, still processing the morning's revelations, expressed their joy and pride. "We always knew you were special, Eli. This just proves it," his mother said, her eyes shining with tears of happiness.
His father, clapping him on the shoulder, added, "We're proud of you, son. Powers or not, you're our boy. But please, no more surprises at breakfast."
Eli laughed, promising to keep the spectral surprises to a minimum. "I'll try, but no promises," he joked, stepping out into the world with a newfound confidence and a family's love bolstering his spirits. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and Eli couldn't wait to see where his abilities would take him.